EP3128629A1

EP3128629A1 - Photovoltaic junction box and photovoltaic junction module

Info

Publication number: EP3128629A1
Application number: EP16182400.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Yuan Zhong; Ting Tao; Shih Ying Ko
Original assignee: Tyco Electronics Holdings Bermuda No 7 Ltd; Tyco Electronics Shanghai Co Ltd
Current assignee: Tyco Electronics Holdings Bermuda No 7 Ltd; Tyco Electronics Shanghai Co Ltd
Priority date: 2015-08-04
Filing date: 2016-08-02
Publication date: 2017-02-08
Anticipated expiration: 2036-08-02
Also published as: US20170040938A1; ES2824164T3; JP2017038512A; JP6820681B2; CN107040202A; EP3128629B1

Abstract

The present disclosure discloses a photovoltaic connection box, including: a box body; and conduction terminals received in the box body. Each of the conduction terminals is provided with a bus bar holding mechanism configured to hold a bus bar of a solar panel on the conduction terminal so as to electrically connect the bus bar to the conduction terminal. Each of the bus bar holding mechanisms comprises a positioning slot formed on the conduction terminal and adapted to position the bus bar inserted therein in place; and a pressing elastic sheet mounted on the conduction terminal and adapted to press the bus bar on the conduction terminal, so that the bus bar reliably comes into electrical contact with the conduction terminal. Further, the present disclosure also discloses a photovoltaic connection module comprising the photovoltaic connection box.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of Chinese Patent Application No. 201510471648.1 filed on August 4, 2015 in the State Intellectual Property Office of China, the whole disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present disclosure relates to a photovoltaic junction box for electrically connecting with a bus bar of a solar panel, and a photovoltaic junction module comprising the photovoltaic junction box.

Description of the Related Art

In the prior art, a photovoltaic junction box generally comprises a box body; and a positive conduction terminal, a negative conduction terminal, a diode and an elastic clip, which are all housed in the box body. The diode is connected between the positive conduction terminal and the negative conduction terminal. The elastic clip is adapted to clamp a positive bus bar of the solar panel on the positive conduction terminal and at the same time clamp a negative bus bar of the solar panel on the negative conduction terminal, such that the positive and negative bus bars of the solar panel are electrically connected to the positive and negative conduction terminals, respectively.
The current photovoltaic junction box has the drawbacks, such as complicated structure, relatively high cost and sophisticated operation.
Further, in the current photovoltaic junction box, electrical contact between the bus bar and the conduction terminal is not reliable and quite easy to become loose.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present disclosure is to solve the above mentioned technical problems or other technical problems of the prior art
One object of the present disclosure is to provide a photovoltaic conduction box of simple structure, which may realize the reliable electrical connection between a bus bar of a solar panel and a conduction terminal of the photovoltaic conduction box.
According to one aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a photovoltaic connection box, comprising: a box body; and conduction terminals received in the box body. Each conduction terminal is provided with a bus bar holding mechanism configured to hold a bus bar of a solar panel on the conduction terminal so as to electrically connect the bus bar to the conduction terminal. Each of the bus bar holding mechanisms comprises a positioning slot formed on the conduction terminal and adapted to position the bus bar inserted therein in place; and a pressing elastic sheet mounted on the conduction terminal and adapted to press the bus bar on the conduction terminal, so that the bus bar reliably comes into electrical contact with the conduction terminal.
According to one exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the positioning slot is defined by a recession and a projection both formed on a surface of the conduction terminal.
According to a still exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the pressing elastic sheet has a pressing portion projecting downwards and adapted to press the bus bar received in the recession against an internal bottom surface of the recession.
According to a still exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a base of the pressing elastic sheet is rotatably connected to the surface of the conduction terminal, so as to allow the pressing elastic sheet to rotate between a first position and a second position; when the pressing elastic sheet is in the first position, the pressing portion of the pressing elastic sheet is located in the recession so as to press the bus bar inserted in the positioning slot; and when the pressing elastic sheet is in the second position, the pressing portion of the pressing elastic sheet is located outside the recession, so as to allow to insert the bus bar in the positioning slot or pull the bus bar out of the positioning slot.
According to a still exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a bottom surface of the pressing portion of the pressing elastic sheet is provided with a plurality of projecting ribs separated from each other and adapted to press against the bus bar.
According to a still exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a tip portion of the pressing elastic sheet bends upwards and is formed with a slot so as to form a holding portion, which is adapted to be held by an operator, on the pressing elastic sheet.
According to a still exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, each of the conduction terminals is formed with a stub-shaped protrusion, in which a thread hole is formed, and the base of the pressing elastic sheet is formed with a through-hole; and the pressing elastic sheet is rotatably connected to the conduction terminal by a screw passing through the through-hole and screwed in the thread hole of the stub-shaped protrusion.
According to a still exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the recession has a flat internal bottom surface lower than an upper surface of the conduction terminal; the projection has a flat lower surface higher than the upper surface of the conduction terminal; and the bus bar inserted in the positioning slot is defined between the internal bottom surface of the recession and the lower surface of the projection.
According to a still exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the internal bottom surface of the recession is provided with soldering material for soldering the bus bar on the internal bottom surface of the recession.
According to a still exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the projection is formed at one end of the recession and is aligned with the recession.
According to a still exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the conduction terminals comprise a positive conduction terminal and a negative conduction terminal separated from the positive conduction terminal; and the photovoltaic connection box further comprises a diode electrically connected between the positive conduction terminal and the negative conduction terminal.
According to a still exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the photovoltaic box further comprises a positive wire electrically connected to positive conduction terminal and a negative wire electrically connected to the negative conduction terminal.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a photovoltaic connection module, wherein, the module comprises an above-mentioned photovoltaic connection box and a solar panel. The bus bar of the solar panel is inserted in the positioning slot so as to be held in place; and the pressing elastic sheet presses the bus bar on the conduction terminal, so that the bus bar reliably comes into electrical contact with the conduction terminal.
According to one exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, an internal bottom surface of the positioning slot is provided with soldering material for soldering the bus bar on the conduction terminal.
According to a still exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, after pressing the pressing elastic sheet on the bus bar, the bus bar is soldered on the conduction terminal.
In the various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, the bus bar of the solar panel is inserted in the positioning slot of the conduction terminal so as to be held in place. The pressing elastic sheet provided on the conduction terminal presses the bus bar in the positioning slot so as to prevent the bus bar from moving with respect to the conduction terminal and keep the reliable electrical contact between the bus bar and the conduction terminal.
Further, in some exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, the bus bar is further soldered on the internal bottom surface of the positioning slot so as to further prevent the bus bar from moving with respect to the conduction terminal, such that the electrical connection between the bus bar and the conduction terminal will be more reliable.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other features of the present disclosure will become more apparent by describing in detail exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig.1 shows a schematic perspective view of conduction terminals in a photovoltaic junction box according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;
Fig. 2 shows a schematic perspective view of a pressing elastic sheet in the photovoltaic junction box according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;
Fig.3 shows a schematic perspective view of the photovoltaic junction box according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, wherein, a bus bar has already been inserted in a positioning slot; however, the pressing elastic sheet hasn't pressed against the bus bar; and
Fig. 4 shows a schematic perspective view of the photovoltaic junction box according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, wherein, the bus bar has already been inserted in the positioning slot, and the pressing elastic sheet has already pressed against the bus bar.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE IVENTION

Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described hereinafter in detail with reference to the attached drawings, wherein the like reference numerals refer to the like elements. The present disclosure may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiment set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that the present disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the concept of the disclosure to those skilled in the art.
Furthermore, in the following detailed description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the disclosed embodiments. It will be apparent, however, that one or more embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are schematically shown in order to simplify the drawing.
According to a general technical concept of the invention, there is provided a photovoltaic connection box, comprising: a box body; and a plurality of conduction terminals received in the box body. Each conduction terminal is provided with a bus bar holding mechanism configured to hold a bus bar of a solar panel on the conduction terminal so as to electrically connect the bus bar to the conduction terminal. Each of the bus bar holding mechanisms comprises a positioning slot formed on the conduction terminal and adapted to position the bus bar inserted therein in place; and a pressing elastic sheet mounted on the conduction terminal and adapted to press the bus bar on the conduction terminal, so that the bus bar reliably comes into electrical contact with the conduction terminal.
Fig.1 shows a schematic perspective view of the conduction terminals 100 and 200 in a photovoltaic junction box according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; Fig. 2 shows a schematic perspective view of a pressing elastic sheet 130 in the photovoltaic junction box according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; Fig.3 shows a schematic perspective view of the photovoltaic junction box according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, wherein, a bus bar 40 has already been inserted in a positioning slot 110; however, the pressing elastic sheet 130 hasn't yet pressed against the bus bar 40; and Fig. 4 shows a schematic perspective view of the photovoltaic junction box according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, wherein, the bus bar 40 has already been inserted in the positioning slot 110, and the pressing elastic sheet 130 has already pressed against the bus bar 40.
In an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, there is disclosed a photovoltaic junction box. As illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, the photovoltaic junction box 1 mainly comprises a box body 1, two conduction terminals 100 and 200, and a diode 30.
As clearly illustrated in Fig.3, the conduction terminals 100 and 200 together with the diode 30 are housed in the box body 1. One of the conduction terminals 100 and 200 is acted as a positive conduction terminal 100, and the other of the conduction terminals 100 and 200 is acted as a negative conduction terminal 200. The positive conduction terminal 100 is arranged to be separated from the negative conduction terminal 200, and the diode 30 is electrically connected between the positive conduction terminal 100 and the negative conduction terminal 200. The positive conduction terminal 100 is electrically connected with a positive wire 10, and the negative conduction terminal 200 is electrically connected with a negative wire.
As illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4, in an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, each of the conduction terminals 100 and 200 is provided with a bus bar holding mechanism configured to holding a bus bar 40 of a solar panel (not shown) on the conduction terminal 100 or 200 so as to electrically connect the bus bar 40 to the conduction terminal 100 or 200.
Referring to Fig.1 to Fig.4, in an illustrated embodiment, each bus bar holding mechanisms mainly comprises the positioning slot 110 and the pressing elastic sheet 130.
As clearly illustrated in Figs. 1, 3 and 4, the positioning slot 110 is formed on each of the conduction terminals 100 and 200, and is adapted to position the bus bar 40 inserted therein in place; and the pressing elastic sheet 130 is mounted on each of the conduction terminals 100 and 200, and is adapted to press the bus bar 40 located in the positioning slot 110 of the conduction terminal 100 or 200, so that the bus bar 40 reliably comes into electrical contact with the conduction terminal 100 or 200.
As clearly illustrated in Figs.1, 3 and 4, the positioning slot 110 is defined by an internal wall surface of a recession 111 and an internal wall surface of a projection 112 both formed on a surface of the conduction terminal 100 or 200 by a punching processing.
As clearly illustrated in Figs.2, 3 and 4, the pressing elastic sheet 130 has a pressing portion 132 projecting downwards and adapted to press the bus bar 40 received in the recession 111 against an internal bottom surface of the recession 111.
As illustrated in Fig.1 to Fig.4, in the illustrated embodiment, a base of the pressing elastic sheet 130 is rotatably connected to the surface of the conduction terminal 100 or 200, so as to allow the pressing elastic sheet 130 to rotate between a first position and a second position.
When the pressing elastic sheet 130 is in the first position (the position as illustrated in Fig.4), the pressing portion 132 of the pressing elastic sheet 130 is located in the recession 111 so as to press the bus bar 40 inserted in the positioning slot 110.
When the pressing elastic sheet 130 is in the second position (the position as illustrated in Fig.3), the pressing portion 132 of the pressing elastic sheet 130 is located outside the recession 111, so as to allow to insert the bus bar 40 in the positioning slot 110 or pull the bus bar 40 out of the positioning slot 110.
As illustrated in Figs.2 and 4, in the illustrated embodiment, a plurality of projecting ribs 133 separated from each other are formed on a bottom surface of the pressing portion 132 of the pressing elastic sheet 130. These projecting ribs 133 is adapted to press against the bus bar 40.
In this way, it is possible to more reliably press the bus bars 40 on the conduction terminals 100 and 200. Further, since only the projecting ribs 133 come into contact with the bus bar 40, the contact resistance between the pressing elastic sheet 130 and the bus bar 40 is reduced.
As clearly illustrated in Fig.2, in the illustrated embodiment, a tip portion of the pressing elastic sheet 130 is bent upwards, and is formed with a slot 135 so as to form a holding portion 134, which is adapted to be held by an operator, on the pressing elastic sheet 130. In this way, the operator may operate the pressing elastic sheet 130 through the holding portion 134, for example, rotating the pressing elastic sheet 130 from the second position as shown in Fig. 3 to the first position as shown in Fig. 4.
As illustrated from Fig.1 to Fig.4, in an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, each of the conduction terminals 100 and 200 is provided with a stub-shaped protrusion 120, in which a thread hole 121 is formed; accordingly, a through-hole 131 is formed in the base of the pressing elastic sheet 130. The pressing elastic sheet 130 is rotatably connected to the conduction terminal 100 or 200 by a screw 140. The screw 140 passes through the through-hole 131 and is screwed in the thread hole 121 of the stub-shaped protrusion 120. In this way, the conduction terminal 100 or 200 may rotate about a smooth cylindrical base of the screw 140.
As illustrated in Figs.1 and 3, in an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the recession 111 has a flat internal bottom surface (an upper surface of the recession) lower than an upper surface of the conduction terminal 100 or 200. The projection 112 has a flat internal top surface (the lower surface as shown in Fig. 1) higher than the upper surface of the conduction terminal 100 or 200. The bus bar 40 inserted in the positioning slot 110 is defined between the lower surface of the recession 111 and the internal top surface of the projection 112.
In an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the internal bottom surface of the recession 111 is provided with soldering material, such as tin solder, for soldering the bus bar 40 on the internal bottom surface of the recession 111. In this way, it is possible to further prevent the bus bar 40 from moving with respect to the conduction terminal 100 or 200 by soldering the bus bar on the internal bottom surface of the recession, such that the electrical connection between the bus bar 40 and the conduction terminal 100 or 200 will be more reliable.
In an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, after pressing the pressing elastic sheet 130 on the bus bar 40, the bus bar 40 is soldered on the conduction terminal 100 or 200. In this way, when soldering, since the bus bar 40 has already been tightly pressed on the flat internal bottom surface of the recession 111 by the pressing elastic sheet 130, cold solder joint thus may be effectively avoided so as to improve the soldering quality.
As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3, in the illustrated embodiment, the projection 112 on the conduction terminal 100 or 200 is formed at one end of the recession 111 and aligned with the recession 111. In this way, the straight bus bar 40 may smoothly be inserted in the positioning slot 110 defined by the projection 112 together with the recession 111.
It should be appreciated for those skilled in this art that the above embodiments are all exemplary embodiments, and many modifications may be made to the above embodiments by those skilled in this art, and various features described in different embodiments may be freely combined with each other without conflicting in configuration or principle.
Although the present disclosure has been described with reference to the attached drawings, the embodiments disclosed in the attached drawings are intended to describe the preferred embodiments of the present disclosure exemplarily, but should not be construed as a limitation to the present disclosure.
Although several embodiments of the general concept of the present disclosure have been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes or modifications may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the disclosure, the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.
As used herein, term "comprising" or "having" should be understood as not excluding other elements or steps, and term "a" or "an" should be understood as not excluding plural elements or steps. In addition, any reference numeral in claims should not be understood as the limitation of the scope of the present disclosure.

Claims

A photovoltaic connection box, comprising:
a box body;

a plurality of conduction terminals received in the box body; and

a plurality of bus bar holding mechanisms provided on the conduction terminals, and configured to hold bus bars of a solar panel on the conduction terminals, respectively, so as to electrically connect the bus bars to the conduction terminals, each bus bar holding mechanisms comprising:
a positioning slot formed on the conduction terminal and adapted to position the bus bar inserted therein in place; and

a pressing elastic sheet mounted on the conduction terminal and adapted to press the bus bar on the conduction terminal, so that the bus bar reliably comes into electrical contact with the conduction terminal.
The photovoltaic connection box according to claim 1, wherein the positioning slot is defined by a recession and a projection both formed on a surface of the conduction terminal.
The photovoltaic connection box according to claim 2, wherein the pressing elastic sheet has a pressing portion projecting downwards and adapted to press the bus bar received in the recession against an internal bottom surface of the recession.
The photovoltaic connection box according to claim 3, wherein, a base of the pressing elastic sheet is rotatably connected to the surface of the conduction terminal, so as to allow the pressing elastic sheet to rotate between a first position and a second position;
when the pressing elastic sheet is in the first position, the pressing portion of the pressing elastic sheet is located in the recession so as to press the bus bar inserted in the positioning slot; and
when the pressing elastic sheet is in the second position, the pressing portion of the pressing elastic sheet is located outside the recession, so as to allow to insert the bus bar in the positioning slot or pull the bus bar out of the positioning slot.
The photovoltaic connection box according to claim 4, wherein, a bottom surface of the pressing portion of the pressing elastic sheet is provided with a plurality of projecting ribs separated from each other and adapted to press against the bus bar.
The photovoltaic connection box according to claim 5, wherein a tip portion of the pressing elastic sheet is bent upwards and is formed with a slot so as to form a holding portion, which is adapted to be held by an operator, on the pressing elastic sheet.
The photovoltaic connection box according to claim 4, wherein
each of the conduction terminals is formed with a stub-shaped protrusion, in which a thread hole is formed, and the base of the pressing elastic sheet is formed with a through-hole; and
the pressing elastic sheet is rotatably connected to the conduction terminal by a screw passing through the through-hole and screwed in the thread hole of the stub-shaped protrusion.
The photovoltaic connection box according to claim 7, wherein
the recession has a flat internal bottom surface lower than an upper surface of the conduction terminal;
the projection has a flat lower surface higher than the upper surface of the conduction terminal; and
the bus bar inserted in the positioning slot is defined between the internal bottom surface of the recession and the lower surface of the projection.
The photovoltaic connection box according to claim 8, wherein,
the internal bottom surface of the recession is provided with soldering material for soldering the bus bar on the internal bottom surface of the recession.
The photovoltaic connection box according to claim 9, wherein,
the projection is formed at one end of the recession and is aligned with the recession.
The photovoltaic connection box according to claim 1, wherein,
the conduction terminals comprise a positive conduction terminal and a negative conduction terminal separated from the positive conduction terminal; and
the photovoltaic connection box further comprises a diode electrically connected between the positive conduction terminal and the negative conduction terminal.
The photovoltaic connection box according to claim 1, wherein
the photovoltaic box further comprises a positive wire electrically connected to positive conduction terminal and a negative wire electrically connected to the negative conduction terminal.
A photovoltaic connection module, wherein, the module comprises:
a photovoltaic connection box according to claim 1-; and

a solar panel,

wherein the bus bar of the solar panel is inserted in the positioning slot so as to be held in place; and

wherein the pressing elastic sheet is arranged to press the bus bar on the conduction terminal, so that the bus bar reliably comes into electrical contact with the conduction terminal.
The photovoltaic connection module according to claim 13, wherein,
an internal bottom surface of the positioning slot is provided with soldering material for soldering the bus bar on the conduction terminal.
The photovoltaic connection module according to claim 14, wherein,
after pressing the pressing elastic sheet on the bus bar, the bus bar is soldered on the conduction terminal.